Franklin Monroe topples Newton Indians

We try to hang our hat on defense ... Coach Troy Myers

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Ben Denlinger drains one of his five Franklin Monroe 3-pointers to lead all scorers with a game-high 20 points in win over Newton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

PITSBURG – The Franklin Monroe Jets defeated the visiting Newton Indians 50-36 in Friday night’s conference matchup.

“We try to hang our hat on defense,” said Franklin Monroe coach Troy Myers. “We know what tournament basketball presents, so you have to be defensively sound in games that matter, and that is where we try to build our identity. In a game that was tight for a while, we had to keep getting stops. We were getting the first rebound off the rim a lot which is important, we were not giving them second chances.”

Franklin Monroe senior Ty Riffle drives to the bucket for the Jets in Friday night win over Newton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

Newton grabbed an 11-8 first-period lead at 1:11 on the first-quarter board before the Jets used a 4-0 run to close the opening period with a slim 12-11 advantage.

Period No. 2 had the visiting Indians open on a 4-0 run, taking a 15-12 lead with 4:58 showing on the clock, with Franklin Monroe battling back to close out the second on a 13-4 run with the benefit of two Ben Denlinger 3-pointers and a bucket sending the teams to the break with the Jets leading 25-19.

Lucas Brenner scores for Franklin Monroe in league win over Newton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

“Both teams were essentially trying to do the same thing,” Coach Myers said of first-half play.  “We were both pressing, trying to turn the game’s tempo up and when they got the ball in the half court, they were trying to be methodical. The game’s pace was slightly different than we wanted, but I give our guys a lot of credit for adjusting to that.”

Franklin Monroe was one better than the Indians in third-quarter play, 13-12, with Eric Brenner returning from a hand injury to knock down a 3-pointer to go along with a Ty Riffle triple, giving the home team a 38-21 lead with one period to play.

Franklin Monroe senior Eric Brenner returns from a hand injury to score for the Jets in win over Newton Indians. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

“Eric has been working so hard behind the scenes doing what he can in rehab, not only just for his hand but for his game and his conditioning,” Myers stated. “He spent a lot of time with our trainer and our strength coach every day, trying to do the right thing and build brick by brick.   He’s only had two days of practice. In live reps, it’s different, but I thought it was fantastic for him to come out and get that run tonight, get that live play, get acclimated to the game again. His best basketball is ahead, so it was good for him to get his feet wet again.”

FM sophomore Blake Riffle goes strong to the basket in Jets conference win over Newton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

“Blake Riffle had to step in when Eric was out and fill a void and did a fantastic job,” Myers added. “Blake is one of the multiple examples we currently have on our team, which you want your program to be.”

The Jets put the game away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Newton 13-5, with Denlinger draining two of his five 3-pointers to give the Franklin Monroe junior five 3s on the night.

EB Fall scores for Franklin Monroe in WOAC win over Indians. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

“Ben showed out, but what people don’t know is that he celebrated a monumental milestone yesterday for how many times he’s been here before school,” said Coach Myers. “To have a night like that tonight shows that there is investment return, and you can call it Blake, you can call it Ben, you can call it Ty, there are multiple guys, and that’s how you build a program. I am so thankful for them because that’s what is happening right now. The foundation was laid, but now they’re making it stronger, and I am super proud of them.”

“Our offensive efficiency was better in the second half, which helped us,” Myers concluded. “I thought we closed down the game in the fourth quarter the right way.”

Denlinger led Franklin Monroe and all scorers as the game’s only double-digit scorer with a game-leading 20 points.

BOXSCORE:

FRANKLIN MONROE 50, NEWTON 36

FRANKLIN MONROE – B. Denlinger 20, E. Brenner 7, L. Brenner 6, EB Fall 6, T. Riffle 4, B. Riffle 4, B. Filbrun 3 – TOTALS 8 10-14 8 50

NEWTON – C. Alexander 9, L. Cornett 7, L. Morrow 7, B. Wackler 6, R. Koffer 4, M. Newhouse 3 – TOTALS 7 7-11 5 36

3-POINTERS

Franklin Monroe 8 (B. Denlinger 5, T. Riffle 1, E. Brenner 1, Filbrun 1)
Newton 5 (Alexander 3, Wackler 2)

SCORE by QUARTERS

12-13-13-12 50 Franklin Monroe
11-08-12-05 36 Newton